Pains of Amara(Completed)

Chapter 26

Flashback

Many years Earlier

        Lydia walked towards the the village square, in her bid to search for Francis. She knew that was where he would be. Immediately she spotted him, she checked her appearance,making sure she was beautiful. She wore a smile and walked over to meet Francis.
Immediately Francis spotted her coming over to him, he sighed heavily and furrowed his brows in confusion,wondering what she wanted from him this time.

"Francis dim oma(Francis my good husband)"Lydia said grinning from ear to ear.

"Onye bu di gi?(who is your husband?)"Francis asked already visibly annoyed by her presence.
Lydia pouted her lips and folded her arms at Francis.
"Francis what is it now? Why are you behaving like this towards me?"

"Behaving like how now Lydia? Lydia what is your problem with me?"Francis asked raising his voice a little.
Lydia scrunched her face and shook her head,"Anyways that's not why i am here. I just came to inform you that your darling chinenye is pregnant and Emeka isn't the father"

A gasp escaped Francis lips immediately Lydia finished speaking.
He immediately stood up from the wood he seated on and faced Lydia.
"Chinenye pregnant?? She isn't a promiscous girl"

Lydia hissed at him. She hated the way everybody defended chinenye.
"Well at least my case is better because I'm pregnant and i know who is responsible but she doesn't even know who got her pregnant"
   Francis eyed Lydia,"And who is responsible for your own pregnancy?"he asked knowing fully well what Lydia's reply will be.
"You of course!"Lydia replied with a smile.

Francis couldn't help but stare at Lydia with disgust. He didn't love her. He loved chinenye instead but somehow Lydia managed to trap him.
"I suggest you terminate that thing in your womb "Francis murmured turning his face away from Lydia.

Immediately, her smile disappeared and Lydia became pissed off.
"I am not terminating anything. When you were doing it you didn't know you will impregnate me. See if you don't accept this baby I'll tell the whole villagers that you raped and you know the punishment for rape is death"

Francis just stared at Lydia, dumbfounded.
"You better accept this child or die"Lydia rudely added and walked away.
Francis stared at her figure as she walked away. He shook his head in anger.
"Francis how could you let this girl seduce you into sleeping with her? Is this one a wife material? I am finished"

***************

Chinenye

   I snuggled close to Emeka as he started peeling the oranges again. This man really loves me. He is even willing to father another man's child.
God! I gazed at his beautiful face and all i could see was pure concern and genuine love.
I silently prayed within me for God to bless Emeka.
I picked up a peeled orange and started licking it when suddenly the gate opened fiercely and Nne rushed inside.
She was looking distrust.
I and Emeka stared at her, confused at why she entered like that.

   "Is it true?"Nne asked immediately she was close enough to I and Emeka.
We both stared at her, confusion written all over our faces.
"True that what?"Emeka finally asked breaking the suspenseful silence.

"True that Chinenye is pregnant?"Nne replied quickly.
How did she know?
I dropped my orange and stared at emeka as he faced me.
I was dazed. I couldn't even utter a word. How did she find out?
Emeka stood up, motioning with his hands for his mother to be calm.
I buried my face in my hand,sobbing quietly.
   "Nne yes she is..."Emeka started. Immediately Nne let out a shriek. The statement she had been dreading had been voiced out.
"Mama hear me out"Emeka continued.
I couldn't even say a word or raise my head to face Nne's wailing face. I felt so ashamed.
"She was raped on her way to the farm some weeks ago mama"Emeka concluded.

  I slowly raised my head to face Nne.
My tear stained face blurred my vision a little.
"Chinenye is it true?who raped you?"Nne asked calmly as she came over to where i was sitting and sat by me.
I nodded my head and immediately hugged Nne,crying onto her shoulder.
She patted my back softly,"Stop crying my child. I knew you weren't a wayward girl. Stop crying ok"

   I pulled out from her embrace and nodded my head,using the back of my palm to wipe my tears.
"But mama how did you know about chinenye's pregnancy?"Emeka asked out of sheer curiosity.
"Lydia told me. I met her on the road coming back and she told me"Nne replied.

What is Lydia's problem?
I was a little pissed off but i knew sooner or later the truth would come out.
"That girl is getting me angry"Emeka said angrily. I smiled at him, motioning for him to calm down.
A deep sigh escaped his parted lips as he smiled back.

"Do you remember the face of the person who got you pregnant?"Nne asked me.
I shook my head at her. I really wondered who would do that knowing the punishment for rape is death. It was jungle justice.
Was he hired?

"Mama forget that. She doesn't know. What is on our mind now is to start planning for the wedding ceremony before anyone else gets to find out about her pregnancy"Emeka said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"That's good my son. Let me go inside and prepare something for us to eat"Nne said standing up.
       "Let me help you Nne"I offered but she shook her head at me.
"No my dear. Rest. You are pregnant. I'll be back ok"Nne said before heading inside the house.

I scooted to create space for Emeka who came to sit next to me.
"I promise our wedding will be memorable and i hope you give birth to a girl"Emeka said smiling.
He put his hand over my shoulders and i rested on his chest.
"Why a girl? I hope it's a boy so i can teach him how to respect a lady"I objected with a smile.

"And if it's a boy what will you name him?"Emeka asked.
"Amaechina. May the path never close. May the path of justice never close"
Emeka smiled at my reply.
"And if it's a girl, I'll name her Amarachi because she is God's grace to us"Emeka added.